by Jodie & Sharon
(Shreveport , Louisiana)

My cat did not die - my friend of 16 years did.

My wife and I bred Dobermans for years, then I lost my big male hero at 14 years old. A few weeks later at work, a security person had some orange tabbys to give away. I was never a cat person, but the little male was very people friendly.

I took him home and tried to pay bills. He kept getting in my way and I was mean to him. Well, that broke my heart and his was still for me.

He wanted to sleep in our bedroom, but I closed the door. Well, he started meowing and it sounded like momma, so of course I opened the door and Oreh started his life sleeping with my wife and I.

Oreh is Hero backwards which was the name of my male doberman.

Well, at 12 years old, he became insulin dependent. 2 shots per day. My wife with her great love of animals took this burden on without any hesitation. This was for 4 years.

Then his kidneys started failing a few weeks ago. It has been very hard since.

My cat Oreh was a clown. He was a ball of fun, my lap cat. Sunday morning, my paper, my cat, my coffee. And he liked coffee.

Well, this morning, 9-7-10, my wife held him as he was put down. I built a box like I did for all of our lost pets. We put him in it with my bell from my Harley and his favorite toys, a work hat that he liked to sleep in and my wife's fishing hat.

A CAT DID NOT DIE TODAY BUT A BELOVED FAMILY MEMBER DID. GOD BLESS ALL THAT LOSE A PET.